Meeting the Disney characters

My son's first photo at age 2 with Mickey Mouse, when he just knew his Disney pal was real.

Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World

Kristin FordSentinel Staff Writer

Looking at a photo of a child, any child, with Mickey Mouse always makes me smile. I'm reminded of my son's experiences with his Disney friends when he was 2 and 3 years old, when he gazed at them with such wonder it was easy to see he knew they were real. His first photo with Mickey is still one of the things I would grab if my house were on fire. And for months after that first visit, we heard the request: "More Mickey?"

So, I'm a firm believer that making time to greet Mickey's pals, the Disney princesses and Tinker Bell and the fairies is worthwhile. Visitors basically have two options for seeing most of the characters -- make a reservation for a meal at which the characters are scheduled to appear or stand in line at a designated area in one of the four Disney World parks. (Characters won't be able to stop during parades and shows to interact with visitors.)

As a family, our two favorite restaurants for character dining are The Royal Table at Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom and Chef Mickey's at The Contemporary Resort. Both are special because of their unique atmospheres, not necessarily because of the food.

The Royal Table at Cinderella Castle

We have eaten lunch at the castle with the princesses three times in the past four years. Our kids were thrilled to be so close to royalty and actually being inside the castle made it a very memorable time. (My 4-year-old had an endless list of questions: Where do the princesses sleep? Who reads Tinker Bell's bedtime story? Can they see the fireworks every night?)

When you arrive, you will be ushered into the great hall where you can have your photo taken with Cinderella, which is included in the price of your meal package. (The prints will be ready to go home with you after your meal.) Next, you head upstairs to the dining room, where the waitress presents each child with a Wishing Star to be used in a ceremony after lunch. Little boys also receive a pir ate sword and girls, a fairy wand.

During the meal, we were visited by the Fairy Godmother, Snow White, Jasmine and Belle. (The previous year we met Sleeping Beauty and, for some strange reason, Mary Poppins instead of Jasmine and the Fairy Godmother.) We were able to take photos and sign autographs with everyone, but on both visits we felt rushed because more people were waiting for tables. There is a huge demand for castle dining, so if you are interested, you should book as soon as possible. Disney will accept reservations up to 90 days in advance at 407-WDW-DINE. Be forewarned: You will have to pay in full in advance, but the charge is refundable for cancellations up to 24 hours in advance.

Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary

Chef Mickey's is a fun place for a meal, not only because of the characters, but also because of the monorail trains that whoosh above your head into the Contemporary Resort every few minutes. The format is similar to the castle dining, with professional photos taken of your group before you are seated, and Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto and Chip 'n Dale circulating among the tables while you dine. Unlike The Royal Table, Chef Mickey's is a buffet. Another difference is that the animal characters like to sing and dance and encourage the kids to get up out of their seats and get involved.

We have been to Chef Mickey's five times in the past four years, including hosting my son's 6th birthday party there in the fall. He had been begging for years to have a celebration with Mickey Mouse, but not many of our friends have annual passes, so we needed to find a place that included the characters outside the actual theme parks. Brunch at Chef Mickey's fit the bill and turned out to be a great place for a child's party.

Each park has a regular place f or the main characters to appear: Toon Town in the Magic Kingdom, Character Connection at Epcot, Camp Minnie-Mickey at Animal Kingdom and near the Sorceror's Hat at Hollywood Studios. In addition, other characters may be located throughout the parks. For example, at the Magic Kingdom, Ariel, the LIttle Mermaid, greets fans in her grotto. At Hollywood Studios, stars of the latest movies, such as Bolt and Up, can be found in Animation Courtyard. At Epcot, Donald Duck is stationed outside the Mexico pavilion (because he and Huey, Dewey and Louie are featured in the "Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros" ride inside). You should definitely check the weekly schedules available in the parks for details or ask at Guest Relations if you are searching for a specific character.

An unusual autograph event

When my son was about 5, his school friends turned him on to the Power Rangers. I knew what was coming next. "Mommy, I want to meet the Power Rangers and get their autographs. I saw them at Hollywood Studios," my theme-park-veteran son said.

So, off we went, heading back to the Streets of America, by the Extreme Stunt Show, to wait for the next appearance.

Thirty minutes in the hot sun milling around with other impatient children and parents did little to calm the nerves of anyone. A few minutes before the Rangers were to appear, Disney cast members directed the crowd into five individual lines for each of the Rangers.

Then, in a burst of loud music, the Rangers arrived in a souped-up car, each jumping out and striking a pose for the audience before going to their respective queues. Meanwhile, the music that had made for a festive atmosphere turned on us, ticking off how many minutes the Rangers had left to greet their fans.

This caused a lot of angst among the kids, and even some rude parents, as they realized there was no way to wait in five lines in the allotted 15 to 20 minutes.

In the end, my son was satified with greeting three Rangers and the promise to come back and meet the others. But if the Power Rangers are your child's favorite and meeting all five is important, make sure you plan to attend two appearance times.

Tips

You might be surprised to find your normally talkative child is tongue-tied -- or even scared -- when he or she comes face-to-face with the characters. This can happen at any age, but certainly is more likely when they are younger. My daughter would not greet the characters without clinging to me until she was about 3. Waving and yelling, "Hi, Pooh," from the safety of her stroller was one thing, but hugging a furry yellow bear three times her size was quite another.

We have found that autograph books are a great way for shy children to break the ice with the characters. The kids can approach the characters with a purpose while they get used to the situation. After a little interaction, they might feel comfortable with a high-five, hug or photo. Plus, they have a memorable souvenir to take home.

If all else fails, snap the photo of your child crying while your spouse tries to remedy the situation. In time, the photo will become a family memory, like the traditional pose on Santa's lap.